Just rediscovering the awesomeness of ‘82. My first shows were a few months after this at Alpine Valley (Aug 7 & 8). Always love a great Playin>UJB. Another reviewer said this one is the GOAT. I don’t ascribe to those notions of greatest versions. But this one is a treat! I always like it when the band actually finds a musical transition from one song to the next as opposed to just letting a jam fizzle out. The Playin>UJB from Seattle (9/27/83) is really good as well (flubbed lyrics and all.
The Dead were coming off an absolute scorcher of a tour on east coast & no doubt kept the magic rolling for these Greek shows!

can anyone name a set of shows that are better than 21-23 MAY 82 at the Greek? If anyone knows, let me know so I can listen to them. You can tell how smokin a show is by just listening to Jerry's jammin on Big River 21rst and Cumberland the 22nd.

Going back and trying to remember all the shows I saw, hundreds, this show was one of my absolute favorites. I find the Bird Song and the start of the 2nd set to be quite exceptional. And with the perspective I had in the audience, Jerry's head was right in the middle of the rainbow tie dyed arc. All the energy was shooting out of his head into the dye and morphed into laughing monkeys. (Shroomed heavy) Bobby did a solo thing at the end of Uncle John's jam and I never saw Bobby do a solo ever again. Jerry messed up the Black Peter, but it was a religious experience Black Pete. The Sugar Mags rocked so hard.
As for the next show, the first set was really good. The start of the 2nd set was also strong, but I'm was not so amazed by the 2nd night show. I do remember Mikey coming out to the front of the stage during the drums and banging on the stage. A microphone was positioned next to his drumming on the stage. That was cool. But the 3rd night they brought a motorcycle out and reved it during the drums. And the Scarlet/Fire was quite unique. So upbeat and happy and not a big space melting jam between songs. I've not heard another Scarlet/Fire like it.
The 3 night run was superb and the 1st night was the bomb! All because of the Playin' Uncle that just was so powerful and the soundboard captured the whole thing (minus my seeing energy ripples flying up the dye and forming laughing monkeys) I tried to find myself in the picture, but the resolution doesn't distinguish my face, 3 or 4 rows up a little to the bobby side of center.

got this cassette sometime in 1983...this playin>uncle johns is the best ever played by far!! I challenge anyone to find a better one. Love the rest of the show as well....

These Greek shows are always good to listen to. The boys are usually having a good time and (atleast trying to) playing there best. Unfortunatly this show lacks the energy and superb setlist that the next nite gave.

Highlights include this early Bertha>Greatest combo which Is interesting to compare to later 80s versions which seem tighter, but this version still sees the boys in great vocal form.

But again, next nite is better.

DONT tackle 1987.please.

Just before I start to tackle the Dead's Fall '87 run, I thought I'd check out a series of hometown shows from earlier in the decade at the renowned Greek Theatre.

1st Set: A high-energy if thin vocals permeate this brisk "Bertha." Key timing by the drummers elevatea a breezy "Greatest." "FOTD" is fine, but it has this odd effect of making me yearn for a flowing, cascading 'Row.' During "Uncle" is a perfect example of a higher capabilioty in Jerry's playing, with tickling short side excursions through quirky riff(ing) territories. A Jerry difference between here and '87 is the increased amount of mobility in his playing. Never is that more evident than in this rarified "Bird Song." Those fingers show their delicacy and limberness on a rarified "Bird Song." Things stay smooth and a light hickory smokey on "CC Rider." Jerry continues leading the dynamic charge on a restful but never dull "Althea." As a confirmation that the mid-tempos tonally stand-out greater than the rockers, here may I present a "LLR." "Might" is not as -ty, as I would prefer.

2nd Set: 90 seconds of strumming/tuning kicks off the tight "Playin." Brent's quite active with his organ throughout the song; who said, "Once Again..." hmmm...odd. Anyways, it's quite lovely. As is the singular direction of an always brisk "UJB." the outro jam is primarily notable for Jerry's duel with Phil during the latter 10's early 11's. Despite the short 1st half of the set, plenty of time is given to the percussionists, and guest whistlers, during an increasingly intense "Drums." "Space" reaches some tender, sweet moments. The voices carry the day on a pretty good "Wheel." Instead, like in '87, this "Playin Reprise" is a fully formed entity, not just an excuse to play rushed rocker. "Black" starts out deceptively quiet; never quite reaches a cacophany of overpowering noise, But is refined and solemnic. "Sugar" relieves us of the previous burden, and allows for carefree dancing.

We're encoring with a breezy "Ease," which has crisp, clean Jerry leads; and, remarkable (after I've been privy to only '87 shows for the past month,) for how fresh, youthful and refueled his voice sounds.

3 2/3 stars rounded up.

I love the sound of this show. one of the best sound quality shows. Reminds me of the Dec. 79' Dick's pick. A really nice show from the last great year (...1982!) the Dead were truly "Just exactly perfect!"

Well, I already reviewed the Saturady show and I feel relatively the same about all three ! To reiterate, I can't emphazise enough if you have deen the photos, since like I said before they're relatively rare how wide the tie-dye was at these shows, and the performances were generally equivalent.
Now, I don't want to be too vain but this is the only show to my knowledge where I can be found in a photo in a book about Grateful Dead. (I can hardly be very vain since I appear : along with most of the rest of the audience), in the photo. Specifically, Blair Jackson's Playin' in the Band. It is, a if I recall correctly a two page shot from up above and behind the stage, looking out towards the audience just as they are obviously about to hit the final cord on a song, which I suspect is in the middle of the first set, given the amount of daylight and my recollection etc.
I can pick myself out in the crowd and if you give a ... or maybe just to see if you can follow what I'm saying if you have that book; I'm in my usual spot. That is, about 1/3 back from the stage to the board, in ether the center or preferably slightly to the left, (facing the stage or stage right, which in those days as is obvious in the photo was Jerry's side; later Phil's side after as many of you already know they switched because regardless of the monitor mix, Brent complained he couldn't hear Garcia well enough). I frequently as in this photo, would leap into the air on the final beat with my left fist, (being a lefty) up. I had no shirt on and was(am), rather skinny (age 23 then) ,with long light brown, somewhat lighter at the ends colored hair tucked behind my ears. I don't think I had my suglasses on, but I might have had perscription glasses on yet, I don't fully recall because I don't generally wear them, since my eyes aren't that bad, but I sometimes did at concerts for extra precision.
But seriously, besides my being in the photo it is a great capture of what a Greek show was like although, given the angle one can't see the afore-mentioned tie-dye !

This run of shows is RIDICULOUS!
This show starts with an awesome Bertha>Greatest and really kicks in for Set 2. Playin'>Uncle John's is so sweet. The post Space segment is also very solid. I love this Black Peter. The next night would prove even better.

The sound quality of these boards is stellar.
Get all 3 nights. Rarely do shows sound this good in the early 80's. but check out 84 greeks, 81 chicago, and for the late 70's 79 fall tour.

peace
robert

Been a favorite for years. Just a nice, SOLID 82. Bertha-Greatest- Oh my PHILNESS!!